eNews #2 - Taking the Sting Out of Tech (11/5/2012)

Welcome to the EC TechHornet electronic Newsletter, an EC Technology Operations (ECTO) production! In this issue, you'll find a variety of information and teacher features in multimedia format!

Taking the Sting Out of Tech
Issue #2 - November, 2012
In this issue, please find the following topics (click links to learn more about each):

1. Quick Updates
1. STaR Chart Update - A quick report as to where campuses stand in terms of completing the state-mandated School Technology and Readiness (STaR) Chart. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires 100% completion by all campus teachers so that the District can be eligible for future grant and eRate funding.
2. Digital Citizenship: Getting It Done! Kudos to Oak Crest's Beverly Weatherington for doing a phenomenal job with students and teaching the two required digital citizenship lessons. 
3. Learning via Webinar - The EC Technology Operations office has begun holding webinars for staff, and more will be scheduled in the future! Find out about this new initiative. 
4. Power and Internet Outage - Due to a storm-related power outage, ECISD was offline on 11/5/2012 until City Public Service could restore power. Power and Internet access were restored at approximately 9:00am.
2. Podcasts -
   Catch up on various initiatives by watching a short video or listening to audio versions of the following:

1. Video: EC3 Insight #1 - Heritage MS: This video podcast focuses in on the EC3 ipad Cohort 1 teachers at Heritage MS and their work to transition learning activities from low order thinking to higher-order through the use of iPads in the classroom. 
2. Audio: Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Orientation - In this podcast--watch the video, too--you'll find out what High School teachers learned about the 2013 BYOT Initiative at ECHS.
3. Video: GoogleApps/Gmail for Students - Watch this short webinar on the subject of GoogleApps/Gmail for Students, and what you can do as a professional educator in ECISD schools to help manage the initiative.
4. Podcast: Teacher Academy with Mary Ray - This podcast takes us back in time to Summer and features Mary Ray (Instructional Technology) sharing about the vision for the EC3 iPad program.
5. Audio: Interview with Lisa Johnson - Find out more about what EC3 Cohort 1 teachers were learning this summer with Lisa Johnson.
6. Video: ECTechHornet Reflections #1 - Miguel Guhlin has been in the District about 7 months. Here are a few reflections on that time. 
3. Technology How-Tos:
1. Creating Enhanced Podcasts with an iPad: Are you a principal or teacher wanting to quickly create narrated image slideshows using only your iPad? The process is easier than ever!
2. BYOT How-To Videos: As the District moves towards BYOT at ECHS, we are crafting short how-to videos--as well as finding some on the web--to share. We are placing those online here. What would you like to see?

Thank you for viewing eNews #2 - Taking the Sting Out of Tech for November, 2012!